What Is the Away Goals Rule in Football? History Explained

The away goals rule in football decided some of the most dramatic knockout ties in European history. In short, it broke a level tie in favour of the team that scored more goals away from home. For example, a side that lost 2–1 away from home could still advance by winning 1–0 in front of its own fans. Finally, UEFA abolished the rule in 2021, but it still decides ties in Africa and North America. This guide explains how it worked, why it ended, and the ties it settled.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• A level aggregate score was decided by away goals: the team with more goals on the road advanced.
• The rule began in the 1965–66 Cup Winners’ Cup and spread across European football.
• UEFA abolished it from the 2021–22 season; level ties go to extra time and then penalties.
• CAF and Concacaf still use the rule as of November 2026.
• Away goals do not “count double” — that is only a saying.

What Is the Away Goals Rule in Football?

First, the away goals rule applied only to two-legged knockout ties. In other words, two teams played each other home and away, and the aggregate score decided the winner. If the aggregate score finished level, the team that scored more goals away from home advanced. For example, a 2–2 aggregate draw could send through the team with two away goals against a team with one.

Next, the saying “away goals count double” needs a correction. In fact, no goal was ever doubled or added to the score. The rule simply recorded the team with more away goals as the winner of a level tie. However, home advantage shaped every tie. In fact, teams often played cautiously at home, because a conceded goal handed the visitors a valuable away goal. Our guide to home and away form explains why home and away performances differ so much.

The History of the Away Goals Rule in Football

First, UEFA introduced the away goals rule in the 1965–66 European Cup Winners’ Cup. Before the rule, a tie level on aggregate went to a replay or playoff on neutral ground. As a result, clubs faced extra fixtures, travel and cost.

Next, the rule was first applied in the second round of that 1965–66 Cup Winners’ Cup. In November 1965, Dukla Prague of Czechoslovakia met Budapest Honvéd of Hungary. Honvéd won the first leg 3–2 in Prague and lost the return 2–1 at home. In short, the tie finished 4–4 on aggregate, and Honvéd advanced because they scored three away goals to Dukla’s two.

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup adopted it in 1966–67. Next, the European Cup brought it in round by round: the first round in 1967–68, the second round in 1968–69, and the later rounds in 1970–71. Finally, UEFA introduced it for two reasons: to encourage teams to attack away from home, and to end the neutral-ground playoffs that caused logistical and scheduling problems.

How the Away Goals Rule in Football Worked

First, the rule followed a simple order. If one team led on aggregate after two legs, it advanced and away goals never mattered. If the aggregate score was level, the away-goals count decided the tie. For example, a 1–1 away draw and a 0–0 home draw sent a team through on its one away goal.

Next, if the away-goals count was also level, the tie went to extra time. In UEFA competitions, away goals also counted in extra time. As a result, if the team playing away in the second leg scored in extra time, the home team had to score twice to survive. In contrast, some other competitions did not count away goals in extra time and went straight to penalties instead. Finally, if extra time produced no further goals, a penalty shootout decided the tie.

Why UEFA Abolished the Away Goals Rule in Football

First, UEFA ended the rule on 24 June 2021. On that day, UEFA’s Executive Committee approved its removal from all UEFA club competitions, effective from the 2021–22 season. The Champions League, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League all dropped it at the same time.

Next, the replacement was simple: all goals count equally, level ties go to extra time, and then to a penalty shootout if needed.

Next, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin explained the thinking. “The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage. There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.” In addition, Čeferin said home advantage was no longer as significant as it once was.

However, the numbers backed the decision. From the mid-1970s to 2020/21, the home/away win split in men’s competitions narrowed from 61%/19% to 47%/30%. In addition, the average goals per match scored at home and away narrowed from 2.02/0.95 to 1.58/1.15. In short, home advantage had faded, and the rule’s original purpose had weakened. Finally, one small detail survived: away goals are still used as a ranking tiebreaker when teams finish level on points in the league phase of UEFA competitions.

Where the Away Goals Rule in Football Still Applies

First, the rule did not end everywhere in 2021. In fact, different bodies abolished it in different years, and two major confederations still use it as of November 2026.

Next, CONMEBOL abolished the rule in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana from the 2022 season. Level ties in South America go straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time. Then the AFC followed, abolishing it from the 2023–24 season. As a result, level ties in Asia go to extra time and then penalties.

In contrast, CAF still uses the rule. As of November 2026, it applies in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. If the away goals are also level, the tie goes straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time. In addition, CAF media officer Luxolo September said in April 2026 that scrapping the rule was not on the table. For example, Mamelodi Sundowns went out of the 2026–27 CAF Champions League to Wiliete of Angola on away goals.

Finally, Concacaf still uses the rule in its Champions Cup, as of the 2025 competition. In contrast, the EFL Cup scrapped it from the 2018–19 season, after using it in the semi-finals only after extra time.

Famous Ties Decided by the Away Goals Rule in Football

Tottenham Hotspur vs Ajax, 2019

First leg, 30 April 2019, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: Tottenham 0–1 Ajax, van de Beek scoring in the 15th minute. Second leg, 8 May 2019, Johan Cruyff ArenA: Ajax 2–3 Tottenham. De Ligt and Ziyech put Ajax 3–0 ahead on aggregate at half-time. However, Lucas Moura scored a hat-trick — in the 55th, 59th and sixth minute of stoppage time — to level the aggregate at 3–3. As a result, Tottenham advanced on away goals, three to Ajax’s one.

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur, 2019

First leg, 9 April 2019, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: Tottenham 1–0 Manchester City, Son Heung-min scoring in the 78th minute. Second leg, 17 April 2019, Etihad Stadium: Manchester City 4–3 Tottenham. Sterling scored twice, Bernardo Silva and Agüero added one each, while Son scored twice and Llorente added the other. In short, the aggregate finished 4–4, and Tottenham advanced on away goals, three to City’s one. Finally, the drama came in stoppage time. Sterling thought he had won the tie for City, but his goal was disallowed after a VAR review showed Agüero was offside in the build-up.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United, 2019

First leg, 12 February 2019, Old Trafford: Manchester United 0–2 Paris Saint-Germain, Kimpembe and Mbappé scoring after the break. Second leg, 6 March 2019, Parc des Princes: Paris Saint-Germain 1–3 Manchester United. Romelu Lukaku scored after two minutes and added a second in the second half, while Juan Bernat scored for PSG. In the end, Marcus Rashford converted a 94th-minute penalty after a VAR review for handball by Kimpembe. As a result, the aggregate finished 3–3, and Manchester United advanced on away goals, three to PSG’s none. In short, United became the first team to progress after losing a home first leg by two or more goals. In fact, Reuters put it this way: “Never in 106 attempts… had a team progressed… after a 2-0 home defeat.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the away goals rule in football still exist?

Not in UEFA competitions. UEFA abolished it from the 2021–22 season. However, CAF and Concacaf still use it as of November 2026.

Do away goals count double?

No. In other words, “away goals count double” is only a saying. No goal is ever added or doubled. The rule simply recorded the team with more away goals as the winner of a level tie.

What happens if the away goals are level?

In UEFA competitions, the tie goes to extra time and then penalties. In contrast, CAF and Concacaf send level ties straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time.

Why did UEFA abolish the away goals rule?

UEFA said the rule discouraged home teams from attacking, because they feared conceding a goal that would hand their opponents an advantage. In short, the rule no longer served its original purpose.

Does the away goals rule apply in the World Cup?

No. In fact, the rule belonged to two-legged club knockout ties, not to the World Cup finals or to league play.

Conclusion

First, the away goals rule in football shaped European knockouts for more than fifty years. It began as a fix for neutral-ground playoffs and ended when home advantage faded. In short, it rewarded brave away performances and punished cautious home defences. Finally, its most famous nights still define a European tie.